Aurora Australis Part six
This is the last of my pre written segments. I've got a few doubts about some of the material in this segment but I can't decide on how to rewrite so I'll post it here anyway and pick your brains.
I haven't forgotten your comments I'm just pontificating over them .
Part six
1942: The Soviet- Japanese war has proved a disaster for the Soviets. The war in Northern China has cost the Soviets large numbers of their T-34 tanks due to Japanese mobile anti-tank guns. With the continued losses Stalin orders more of the Red Army’s best units to head east to combat the Japanese in Northern China and to attack their forces occupying Vladivostok.
The assault on Vladivostok was a masterstroke by Admiral Yamamoto he used the entire IJN in the assault to support the marines and regular army. So effective was the attack that the port was captured intact and the Japanese were able to flood the area with troops and overwhelm the defenders. After having captured the city Japanese forces then started to expand outside the city taking with them large numbers of artillery and anti-tank weapons to hold off any Soviet attempt to retake the city. By the end of the year Soviet forces will be redirected from the North China front in an attempt to break the Japanese hold on this strategic city.
Italy with covert backing of Germany invades Yugoslavia. Even though all the major countries denounce the invasion nobody comes to Yugoslavia’s aid. The only assistance they get is military equipment either given or leased to them by Britain or the USA.
The Asian wars have proved a boom for Australia as most the Asian nations order the purchase of Australian military equipment to ward off the perceived threat of Japan.
The two largest purchasers of military equipment are the Japanese and the Kuomintang governments. Both ask to purchase large numbers of aircraft, armoured fighting vehicles artillery and anti-tank weapons. Both governments also continue to purchase large quantities of oil and other resources essential to their domestic needs.
In the aftermath of the Second European Civil War the Dutch seeing that it would be impossible for them to protect their Asian colonies cede them to Australia in exchange for 25% of the revenue generated from the Dutch East Indies oil fields for the next 20 years.
The RAAF seeing the improvement in the Japanese airforce asks Anthony Fokker to design a twin engine interceptor based on the FA-2 design.
Mercedes-Benz with the assistance of Krupp heavy industries start to produce an Australian version of the German Panzer V panther tank. There are several differences in the Australian version however as Mercedes-Benz has decided to go with a more powerful diesel engine and with the assistance of Krupp heavy industries have changed the main armament to the Krupp 105mm K18 L/52 at the request of the Australian Army.
1943: The Soviet- Japanese war has degenerated in a trench warfare style stalemate. The Soviets continue to throw more and more T34 tanks at the Japanese who in turn throw in more aircraft, anti-tank guns and artillery.
The Australian T-1 tank prototype is demonstrated by the Mercedes-Benz - Krupp consortium. The tank impresses everyone present even though it has some teething problems that will be fixed if there is demand for production. After the demonstration the RAA commission the construction of 300 tanks. This order is however dwarfed by the orders placed by the Japanese and the Kuomintang governments who each purchase 1500 tanks each. The German military attache on seeing the performance of the tanks is particularly interested in the main gun. On his recommendation and with the blessing of the General Staff all future German panzers will be armed with the Krupp 105mm K18 L/52.
The RAAF is impressed by the twin engine interceptor designed Anthony Fokker and gets permission for limited production of 120 aircraft of the FAI-2.
Anthony Fokker and the Fokker Aircraft Company in cooperation with Messerschmitt have plans to produce Australia’s first jet aircraft. This aircraft will be a virtual copy of the Me262; the Fokker Aircraft Company using the best ideas from the current Rolls Royce, BMW 003 and Jumo 004 engine designs will build the jet engine.
The Italian war in Yugoslavia continues to consume men and equipment. Benito Mussolini is already starting to have second thoughts about this war but is unwilling to admit error so the war continues.
The Australian finance minister succeeds in his bid to stop any future naval construction apart from those already approved. His impassioned plea to parliament has born fruit and for the first time since 1922 no new naval ships will be laid down.
The most important change in Australia this year is the dissolution of the government of national unity and the holding of elections. The Labor party wins a small majority and forms government pledging social reform and a continuation to the strength of Australia.
In a strange development both Germany and Great Britain independently approach Australia for help in a special project each are running. Secret agreements are reached with both governments, which differ slightly from each other. Germany will share the technology with Australia while Australia will supply the mineral resources and an island for testing.
In payment Germany will cede their newly returned Pacific island holdings (including Papua) to Australia while Australia will provide Germany with cheap resources and sell Germany at cost the T 1 tanks and the jet engines currently being developed by the Fokker aircraft company.
Great Britain agrees to share the technology in exchange for resources and a test area.
In payment Australia gets a preferential trade agreement, very cheap loans and British New Guinea in exchange for a treaty to help protect Britain’s Asian possessions.
Australian now has access to two of the five world powers atomic programs.
America concerned by the activity of the Nazis and the British in atomic research massively increase funding to their atomic program.
The race for the atomic bomb has begun.
In other world news Germany takes formal possession of the former French colonies in Indo-china and the Americas (the pacific island colonies having already been ceded to Australia). Resistance by the French colonialists was met by as series of short bloody battles that resulted in German victory and the deaths of hundreds of French colonists.
The Australian population continues to grow with the latest migrants from France and the French colonies fleeing German rule. These French migrants settle in the Northern Territory. Germany has continued its policy of expulsions, running low on Jews the Germans turn their attention to the Slavic people under their control.
Australia’s population has now reached 25 million.
1944: Australia and New Zealand after years of discussions hold referendums to be joined as one nation. The New Zealand referendum is to join the Commonwealth of Australia. In the Australian referendum, Australia has offered statehood to the Northern Territory and the islands of New Zealand, New Guinea, Timor, Celebes, Borneo, Java and Sumatra. After the votes are counted the referendums in both countries are passed and the islands are admitted to the Commonwealth of Australia as Sovereign States.
With the addition of the new states and the European migrants the Australian Commonwealth population is now 65 million.
To bring the new states up to the standards of the original states the federal government introduces a massive education campaign, which includes the building of schools with adjacent health care clinics. Attendance at the school is mandatory for all children between the age of six to sixteen with any higher education voluntary but encouraged. Another part of the program is a weekly learning session in the local town hall so the parents of the children also get the benefit of some education.
To fund this program the Australian government will suspend all future naval construction for the next five years or until the tax revenue has increased to enable adequate funding of this program.
The federal government will also look at other means of generating income to fund the education and the defence programs currently in place.
The Soviet- Japanese war has caused massive losses for both parties. The Japanese however have been unable to produce the equipment required by their army. The Japanese ambassador to Australia approaches the Australian Prime Minister and enquires if Australia has any surplus military equipment that it would be willing to sell to the Japanese. After consultations with the defence chiefs the Australian Prime Minister advises the Japanese ambassador that Australia is in the process of upgrading it’s military and that a lot of the older equipment could be sold ahead of schedule if the equipment was paid for up front. The Japanese agree and the first transfer of equipment begins in early May. With this agreement in place Australia will be weaker over the next couple of years as new more modern equipment is produced to replace the old. By the end of this time however Australia will have one of the worlds’ most modern armies and air forces composed of modern tanks, tracked armoured fighting vehicles, self propelled artillery and both jet and piston powered aircraft.
The tanks already being produces by Mercedes-Benz - Krupp consortium have left their mark on the army and the Australian government increases its order to 3000 units. This consortium also wins the contract for the 203-mm self-propelled artillery.
The AFV’s will be produced by GHM after they submitted a composite design using the best features of both the British and German designs.
At the Fokker Aircraft Company, Anthony Fokker has successfully tested his new jet engine. Examples of this engine will be fitted to the JF-1 jet fighter for test and evaluation. If successful both the jet engine and aircraft will be put into full production.
The Italian war in Yugoslavia is starting to look better for the Italians as the Germans have sold all their surplus old design panzers to the Italians. The German army is now made entirely of motorised and mechanised vehicles with panzers of nothing less the up-gunned mark V and the new Tiger II. (Due to the war ending early the Tiger I only had a production run of a few hundred vehicles)
With their new panzers the Italians will be able to break the back of the Slavs before the year is out and will be posturing on the Greek border their intent clear.
The Germans are watching the Soviet- Japanese war with interest. The Germans take particular note of all the Soviet panzer units sent to the east. For the first time the Germans actually have more panzers and men in Europe than the Soviets. The Germans know they only have to wait a short time until they will be able to land the knockout blow to Bolshevik menace. With their new panzers, jets, rockets and the promise of a new super bomb the German general’s start planning the aborted operation Barbarossa.
The United Kingdom has not been idle since the peace treaty. New tanks, jets and ships have been constructed to lessen the threat of the Third Reich. While these were being constructed research continued on the atomic project and the UK made closer ties to its Commonwealth countries and the United States.
Anthony Eden sits in his office and ponders the lost chances. England can no longer defeat Germany, she must now wait and bide her time until the Reich destroys itself.
1945: The war in the east has taken a turn for the worst for the Soviets. The Japanese army re-equipped by the former Australian army AFV’s and tanks have launched a lightening raid from Northern China and pocketed the Red Army between itself and the Vladivostok enclave. This battle could prove to be the turning point in the war as neither side has the ability to replace the equipment being consumed or the finances to purchase replacements.
Seeing yet more forces being moved east by the Soviets, Fuhrer Hess orders Germany to war against the Bolsheviks. After consultation with his generals it is decided the war will commence on July 4th.
The Italian war in Yugoslavia has come to an abrupt end as Italy’s new panzer divisions have smashed organised resistance. Although he had planned to continue the war into Greece, his generals convince Benito Mussolini that the continuing partisan attacks should delay any move on Greece until the partisans are crushed.
In Australia the army and airforce have been gutted by arms sales to Japan. All 600 of the airforce’s FA-1 and 300 of the FA-2 aircraft have been sold to Japan along with 600 of the army’s MFV’s and 300 pieces of 203mm towed artillery.
The proceeds of the sale of this equipment will go to the purchase of the new equipment ordered the previous year.
The Fokker Aircraft Company’s JF-1 jet fighter has been approved for production and 600 aircraft are ordered to replace those sold to Japan.
The Fokker JE-001 jet engine is the leader of the field as it was developed using the best ideas from both Germany and England. This engine weighed 950kg with two turbines and afterburner. Although larger than the engines used in the Me262 it produces 1500kg of thrust. This allows the JF-1 jet fighter a maximum speed of 620mph or 990km/h at 8000m and a maximum service ceiling of 13000m.
In other Australian news the incorporation of the various islands into the Commonwealth is progressing well with one noticeable exception. The inhabitants of Bougainville and their relatives on the Solomon Islands have been agitating to be reunited. Australia offers to include the Solomon in the islands’ territory that is being organised for eventual entry as a state as long as the United Kingdom agrees with their inclusion. This focuses the attention of the islanders on the UK and away from Australia.
1946: Germany’s attack on the USSR has been a raging success. German units in the north managed to encircle Leningrad and liberate the Baltic States. By the end of the year German forces of Army Group North are closing a ring of steel around Moscow. The central and southern Army Groups have raced forward initially against little opposition and such is the success of these drives that unless Soviet forces are withdrawn from the east the Germans will reach the Ural mountains by the middle to next year.
In Australia the Fokker Aircraft Company has the JF-1 jet fighter in full production. Such is the demand for the jet engines that both Mercedes-Benz and a newly formed BMW Australia have licensed the rights to build these engines for both internal and export markets. One of the surprise purchasers of these engines is the US who has finally decided to start building jet aircraft.
The Soviets in a last ditch effort manage to break out of the Japanese encirclement and rush westwards to try and stop the Germans form capturing any more of their European territories. The result of this effort is that the Soviets effectively cede control of Northern China and Vladivostok to the Japanese.
America seeing the potential dismemberment of the Soviet Union commences the sale of large quantities of military equipment in the hope of slowing the German and Japanese advances.
England’s colonial troubles are starting to cause serious strain on their military and finances the Solomon Islands have descended into a war zone with any non native being a fair target. In Africa, the Royal army is deployed in an attempt to prevent Germany or Italy gaining more territory. On top of these troubles is the increasing racial tensions in South Africa along with that countries increasingly friendly relations with Germany.
Australia is now in transition as the new states have put tremendous strain on its economy. The new schools and medical clinics are absorbing a large percentage of resources yet this must be done to prevent them falling back into their old tribal conflicts. The various government ministers are meeting to discuss the allocation of resources at the end of this meeting it is decided that the children of the new state will receive the bulk of the educational resources. The general consensus is if the children are educated to current western standards they will be able to assist administering their states and in time will form not only their own governments but also most of Australia’s. As the cost of the incorporating the new states is increasing a decision is made to stop all future naval construction for the next ten years while encouraging investment and development of resources will continue. In a closing statement the Prime Minister tells parliament that although the road ahead is difficult the rewards of successful integration of the new states far out weigh the short term cost.